Jingxia Rose

Chapter 19: Self-Deception

The news of Jin Chengye's appearance in Beijing became a trending topic on the afternoon of the third day. He was photographed at the airport with four bodyguards, which sparked another round of heated discussions online.

Although Ji Xian was somewhat prepared for the news that the two of them had actually divorced, he was still surprised.

In the following days, she went to the hospital twice more. Ruan Zheng's emotions were still not very stable. Occasionally she would smile, but most of the time she would stare blankly at her legs or repeatedly watch her old dance videos, with a beautiful halo always in her eyes.

But when the video ends, the two beams of light will also disappear.

Wen Qi even found her a psychologist, and she went to the hospital almost every day, occasionally even taking Sui Yi's place at night.

She herself couldn't get over it, and no one around her could put their minds at ease.

With the company team-building day approaching, Ji Xuan took the opportunity during a break from discussing business with him to ask about his plans.

Upon hearing this, Wen Qi fell silent.

Ji Xian, who had been by her side for so many years, understood her best. She would understand his meaning as soon as he made a slight movement, hesitated, or looked familiar.

“Sister Ruan Zheng can’t be left alone. Auntie will definitely have a hard time managing on her own. With you there, they can feel more at ease.”

The implication was that he didn't need to go to the team building event and should stay here to take good care of Ruan Zheng.

The hospital had actually arranged for a caregiver from the old house to take care of her there, but Ruan Zheng's situation was special at the moment, and Sui Yi was worried about her, so she wanted a family member to stay with her.

Wen Jingyan did go there every day, but he was in charge of the Wen family's various businesses and his energy was limited.

Therefore, even if he went to the hospital, it wouldn't count as being alone with Ruan Zheng.

Wen Qi looked up at her and saw that her face was calm, her eyes were not rippled at all, and her tone was no different from when she was talking about work.

What time is the administration department asking us to meet?

"They said it would be 7:30 tomorrow morning." Ji Xian looked down at the tablet in his hand. "If there's no traffic, it should arrive around 10:30 tomorrow morning."

"Are you driving there, or taking the bus with them?"

"Bus."

If she goes with him, she will definitely drive, but if he doesn't go, she doesn't want to drive.

Actually, she was quite looking forward to this year's team building activity, even though it wasn't her first time seeing the sea.

In recent years, I have traveled to many cities and countries with Wen Qi on business trips. I have seen the sea several times, but every time it was for work. I have never been able to enjoy the sea breeze, the beach, the yacht, or the seagulls.

To be honest, she felt a little excited when the team building location was decided. She even fantasized about it when Ye Xueyan mentioned swimsuits to her that day, and secretly looked forward to it.

If we had to rank the actual time I spent dating Wen Qi over those four years, it would only be the team-building activities each year.

Last year's team building activity involved hiking, and she twisted her ankle. Wen Qi carried her for a long way to the cable car station, and then carried her back to the hotel.

At that time, she felt sweet, looking at his broad shoulders and strong arms supporting her, she felt incredibly at ease.

So, I can't help but look forward to this year's team building activity—a date.

But reality slapped her hard across the face; the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

I learned my lesson many times when I was a child, but I just don't learn.

Before asking, she had anticipated that this wouldn't elicit disappointment, but rather a lack of significant emotional response.

I'll just treat it as a chance to relax. It's only three or four days. I haven't had such a long vacation in a year. I even had to work overtime last weekend.

The next morning around six o'clock, Ji Xuan got up to wash up, and Wen Qi helped her take her suitcase down.

The box wasn't big; it contained only some changes of clothes and daily necessities.

After breakfast, Wen Qi drove her to the vicinity of the meeting point. Neither of them were sentimental or clingy people, and they wouldn't say those sweet nothings about being reluctant to part.

Wen Qi said, "Have fun."

Ji Xuan took the suitcase from him and nodded, "Okay." The two looked at each other for a few seconds, seemingly unable to say anything, then she waved, "I'm leaving."

Wen Qi hummed in agreement, watching her graceful figure cross the road. The morning light was soft and gentle, casting dappled shadows through the gaps in the trees, and the branches and leaves swayed gently in the warm breeze.

This seemed to be the first time he had stood behind her and watched her depart.

He rarely saw her from behind. Whether at work or in life, she was either beside or behind him, or shoulder to shoulder with him.

Ji Xian was already thin, and from behind he looked even more frail.

Wen Qi frowned, a feeling he had never experienced before flickering through his heart, as if it were gradually slipping away, making him feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

Ji Xian had talked to Shi Wan on WeChat a few days ago about the team building trip to Minghai, asking her if she wanted to come along.
Shi Wan originally didn't go to Minghai with her because she didn't want to be a third wheel for the two of them; she went to another city for work yesterday morning.

After all, I know they're both workaholics and don't usually have many opportunities to date, so this team building event was their only chance.

I messaged them on WeChat early this morning to ask what time they planned to leave.

As the boss, Wen Qi was driving himself, so he didn't have to follow the bus schedule, but he couldn't be too late either, because they needed to take a group photo when they arrived at the destination.

Ji Xuan typed as he walked: I didn't drive, I took the bus.

Shi Wan: Huh? Young Master Wen actually condescended to take the bus? So considerate of the people's plight?
Ji Xian: It was just me; he didn't go.

Shi Wan sent a meme full of question marks: What does this mean?
In less than ten seconds, before Ji Xian had even finished typing, she threw out another sentence: "If I may make a bold guess, it's not because of Ruan Zheng, is it?"

Ji Xian: Hmm.

Shi Wan: ...

A string of ellipses was enough to express her speechlessness.

But that didn't stop her from complaining: No, this is called team building, but to put it bluntly, it's your date. He's putting aside his date to take care of his ex-girlfriend? Is that appropriate?

Shi Wan wrote in lines: Didn't you tell him, "Don't go, come with me to play" or something like that?

Come on, I was just daydreaming. You wouldn't say it anyway.

Ji Xian pondered for a few seconds: That's his sister.

Shi Wan angrily typed: Ji Xian, you're just fooling yourself. You clearly care about his relationship with Ruan Zheng, so why don't you just say so? As family, it's only natural for them to care and worry about each other, but don't your feelings matter? Honey, we've been in this cryptic relationship for four years, aren't you going to reveal the answer yet?
She didn't necessarily want to discourage Ji Xian, but rather wanted her to be more decisive and say what she really thought.

The longer it goes on, the worse it will be for her.

To put it bluntly, she has wasted four years of her youth, but for Wen Qi, it doesn't matter at all. Because of his good family background, after they break up, there will be a swarm of women wanting to marry him.

And what is Ji Xian? Like a moth, knowing that there is a raging fire ahead, he still flies towards it without hesitation.

That's too stubborn.

She wanted to rely on Wen Qi, but she didn't dare to rely on him too much, always carefully protecting this relationship.

Even though the relationship was dull, they preferred to think of it as the most suitable way for them to get along.

Ji Xian stared at the words 'self-deception' and felt a void in his heart.

Their steps stopped.

The summer sun was scorching, burning the skin on her arms, and her heart seemed to warm up as well.

Courage, like soaked wood ear fungus, gradually overflowed the container. She turned around, took a few quick steps, walked around the flower bed, and looked at the spot where she had gotten off the bus.

The car drove away.

Yes, she threw the soaked wood ear mushrooms, along with the container, into the trash can.

I don't want any of them.

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